New ArcGIS Maritime capabilities streamline S-100 adoption
Esri, the global leader in GIS technology, has introduced powerful new capabilities in ArcGIS Maritime that enable the production of S-100 compliant nautical charts. This marks a significant step forward in the modernization of hydrographic data management. Maritime organizations can now generate both S-57 and S-101 charts within the same environment, making the transition to the next generation of marine standards more efficient and better connected to enterprise GIS workflows.
As the maritime sector accelerates toward digital transformation, S-100 ready charting will play an increasingly important role in strengthening navigation, operational safety and real-time situational awareness. Developed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the S-100 standards provide a modern and adaptable framework for electronic navigational charts, bathymetry and a wide range of marine information products.
Geospatial framework
“The core mission of maritime authorities such as hydrographic offices is to support safe navigation, but they are increasingly being called upon to support broader priorities such as the blue economy and environmental stewardship,” said Geoff Dean, senior business development manager for national government at Esri. “Combining the interoperability of the S-100 framework with modern GIS technologies such as ArcGIS enables real-time decision-making, automation and interagency coordination. These are key elements of a geospatial framework that prepares hydrographic offices for efficiently meeting the evolving demands placed on them.”
The global maritime community is in the midst of a major digital upgrade. The shift from S-57 charts to the more intelligent and spatially compatible S-100 standard promises richer data and safer navigation. Yet this progress comes with a real-world challenge: hydrographic offices must produce both chart formats while fleets gradually update their onboard systems. Many vessels still rely on older electronic chart display and information systems that cannot interpret S-100 data, creating a ‘dual fuel’ period where redundancy is unavoidable.
This dual production places pressure on resources and introduces complexity into data management. ArcGIS Maritime helps reduce that burden by enabling organizations to generate new S-101 products while still supporting the trusted S-57 charts that will remain in use until their planned sunset in 2034.
Emphasizing the importance of ArcGIS Maritime supporting the new IHO standards, Rafael Ponce, a principal consultant at Esri, explained: “By transforming hydrography from a chart-centric discipline into a central pillar of marine geospatial information, this new framework will enable smarter navigation, better integration with GIS and broader use of marine data for safety, sustainability and economic development.”
